Edwin Kluge

Musician Edwin H Kluge Sr. of Oakland Park, FL, on March 1, 2015, passed peacefully to heaven where he was greeted by friends & family, and is now playing his music with bands of angels. Born in Valley Stream, NY on 9/30/1933 to Ernest & Edna (Zolzer) Kluge - as a youngster Ed loved visiting his Uncle's farm in PA, swimming & spearfishing at Jones Beach, watching midget car races, & carved balsa models of all the WW1 airplanes. In Jr High Ed lettered in Cross-Country, worked summers at Rockaway News & studied trombone with Warren Covington and Ned Mahoney. In Valley Stream High School Ed was a member of the Orchestra, the Concert & Stage bands and the Chorus. During & after H.S. Ed played trombone with the Bob (Gerard) Friedlander, the Latham/Worsley, & Ned Miller Big Bands in NYC at venues like the Waldorf-Astoria.

In 1953, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Air Force into the 3750th Air Force Band (Sr Inst Trombone). After Basic Traing at Sampson AFB in NY, he was stationed 2 yrs at Scott AFB in Illinois; playing trombone for the USO & NCO Officers clubs &, on off-duty time, with the Bellville Philharmonic & the Alton Symphony Orchestra. The next 2 yrs he was stationed at Shepard AFB in TX. In addition to his military assignments, he played for the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra. Ed earned the National Defense Service Medal & the Good Conduct Medal, & was Honorably discharged in 1957.

Returning to Long Island, Ed entered Hofstra University, studying with Elie Sigmiester & playing trombone with Friedlander Big Band, Bruce Barnard Jazz Concert Band, & Bill Meyer Kingsmen Society Dance Band. He graduated with a B.S. in Music Ed in 1963.

In 1966 Ed moved to Oakland Park, FL, teaching piano & organ for 40 years in his studio at Hale Piano & Organ & in private homes. Student Joellen Kendrick continued lessons for a record 30 yrs total – kindly bringing him ice-cream pies to combat his cancer weight loss. She said she loved his lessons because he always included the history and anectdotes of the composers. Ed also did beautiful music manuscript copying & transposition work. Additionally, Ed loved playing trombone, including with: Miami Beach Showbands 6 yrs; Pit-orchestras at Parker Playhouse & Coconut Grove Playhouse; the Gene Roy Concert Big Band 4 yrs; the Stan Rubin Big Band; the Aristocrats Big Band; the George Mayer Society Dance Band 4 yrs; Broward Co Adult Jazz Band (Lowell Little director); various recording orchestras at New River Studios; the Boca Pops; - the Hall of Fame Band (Gene Guido organizer – Bob Friedlander director); working with Frank Mann; Bill Allred; Jack Martino; the Fusion Machine Swing Band ( director Moe Goldstein); & Anthony Foster's Society Orchestra & the Anthony Foster Big Band 15 yrs. The music & the camaraderie was always a joy to Ed.

Ed fought a good battle against cancer. He lived a good, long life filled with his passion - music. An avid reader; his mind was kept sharp to the end from also watching Jeopardy & doing crossword puzzles every day. Ed's son Edwin H Kluge Jr., his daughter, Jennifer Kluge Liang, three granddaughters, & step-sons Stephen & Dean Starrett made him proud & happy and miss him. His music will play on in hearts & minds forever!

Committal services with military honors will take place Friday, March 27, 2015 at 1:30 pm at the South Florida VA National Cemetery, 6501 South State Rd 7, Lake Worth, FL 33449 (Lane 5). Grave site visitation following at 3:30 pm.


Serenity Funeral Home and Cremation has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.